The Mountain West Podcast gives you an inside look at the deals, developments, and market shifts shaping the Intermountain West. Join our brokers and guests as they share stories from the front lines of commercial real estate — from major transactions to emerging trends you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re an investor, developer, or just curious about what’s changing in your city, this podcast will keep you ahead of the curve.
Chad began his illustrious career in commercial real estate in 1995 mentoring under the top brokers, developers, deal makers, and real estate luminaries of that era. He has drawn on the invaluable lessons learned during that period and has since completed over 3,500 transactions in 40+ states with a total transaction volume exceeding $3.5 Billion. He is leader and luminary in the industry and consistently ranks as one of the highest producing brokers in the country.
Allen Greenwell is Head of Marketing for Newmark Mountain West, providing marketing support to the agents and promoting the company throughout the intermountain west. Prior to joining Newmark Mountain West, Allen spent nearly 19 years with Newmark in their Salt Lake City office. Initially hired as a GIS Technician, Allen grew in his role to eventually be able to provide graphic design support and was later promoted to the be the local Marketing Manager in the Salt Lake City office. As the Marketing Manager, Allen provided marketing, graphic design and mapping/GIS support to the local agents.
Allen especially enjoys meeting with agents and creating marketing materials that will best showcase their listings, utilizing photography, maps and other design elements to tell the story of the listing and market its appeal. Allen also enjoys helping agents create pitch presentations, bringing together all the elements of the company and the agents’ strengths to win new business.
Ai graduated from Utah Valley University in 2011 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Photography. She has spent time as a website template designer for a SaaS CMS provider, a motion graphics animator on the Learning Experience team for a university and has lived the past few years in Japan doing freelance design prior to joining the Mountain West Commercial team. Being a part of the development of certain cities and communities is what excites her most about working in commercial real estate.
Ai loves pop culture, going to the movies, hanging out with dogs, and enjoys painting.
Ashley Allred has built a flourishing career in commercial real estate by learning alongside accomplished brokers and consistently striving for excellence. Named Newmark Mountain West’s Rookie of the Year in 2024, she has quickly become a trusted advisor in the Northern Utah market, working closely with teammate Rand Sargent.
Ashley is dedicated to helping landlords and tenants reach their goals by fostering lasting relationships and providing strategic, dependable guidance. Her passion for the industry, combined with a keen understanding of market trends, makes her a reliable partner throughout every stage of the transaction process.
Specializing in industrial, office, and land acquisitions, Ashley brings expertise and insight to clients seeking opportunities in these sectors.
Outside of work, she enjoys time with her fiancé and four children, attending live music events, playing pickleball and golf, and exploring Utah’s outdoors and vacation destinations.
Branson Wood holds a degree in psychology from Utah Valley University, where he was a standout athlete on the lacrosse team, earning multiple All-Conference honors. At Mountain West Commercial Real Estate, Branson works with Chris Falk and Braxton Willie in the Northern Utah office, focusing on leasing and sales of office and industrial properties. Branson is committed to delivering value to clients while continually expanding his expertise under the mentorship of top industry professionals.
Drew Helm is a retail investment specialist in Newmark’s Salt Lake City office, with a strong focus on properties across the Intermountain West. He has successfully closed over $200 million in transactions, ranging from large-scale portfolio sales to individual single-asset deals, giving him a unique ability to serve both institutional investors and private owners alike.
Drew is known for his strategic mindset, market expertise, and commitment to delivering results that align with his clients’ investment goals. His wide network of investors and brokers makes him a valuable resource for buyers and sellers looking to maximize value and exposure in today’s competitive real estate market.
Prior to his career in commercial real estate, Drew worked in the tech industry, creating and selling software, and graduated from Brigham Young University. He also spent two years on a service mission to Puerto Rico and the surrounding islands.
J.R. Howa brings a rare combination of practical development knowledge and brokerage expertise to every deal. Before entering brokerage, he was deeply involved in his family’s multi-generation construction, development, and investment company, gaining firsthand experience in land acquisition, entitlements, construction, asset management, leasing, and sales. This background gives him a clear understanding of each stage of a project and the challenges that come with it.
J.R. has completed transactions for institutional investors, national and local developers, and private capital groups across multifamily, industrial, retail, and mixed-use assets. His work includes a substantial volume of land and asset acquisitions, often involving complex entitlement processes and coordination with municipalities, CRAs, and state agencies.
Jacob Nielson specializes in Multifamily properties throughout the state of Utah. Jacob is ambitious, honest, persistent, and eager to work alongside some of the most successful agents and investors in the Utah, Nevada, and Montana markets.
Jacob takes pride in knowing all the ins and outs of the multifamily market. He understands the importance of proving his clients with quick, honest, and accurate market information. Whether it be finding the most strategic strategy for selling your property, finding the value of your property, or helping his client find the next property to invest in, he will always provide the best support and care.
Born and raised in Ephraim, Utah, Jacob was raised on a farm where his family valued hard work, honesty, and integrity. Jacob was exposed to the commercial real estate industry through his father who also specialized in Multifamily, making him no stranger to the hard work it takes to build a successful business.
Kristopher Mortensen is a top-performing broker recognized throughout Salt Lake City. Kristopher specializes in multifamily and student housing properties throughout Utah and has represented owners nationwide. Throughout his career, he has transacted $171 million of multifamily assets in the private client space. Some of his clients include Cazador Investments, Barron Equities, and Preserve Partners. Kristopher excels in commercial real estate due to his strong work ethic and dependability. He has an M.B.A in Business Administration with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Utah. He loves spending time with his wife and four kids in his free time. Usually, that time consists of coaching little league football, snowboarding at Snowbasin, and working in the yard at home.
Nick Bowne holds a degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Utah. Having gained valuable experience during his 2021 tenure at Mountain West Commercial Real Estate, Nick is enthusiastic about rejoining the company in a formal capacity. He is eager to receive mentorship from seasoned agents Scott Brady and Chad Moore, looking to glean insights from some of the industry’s finest professionals. While at the University, Nick actively participated in the Business Scholars Program and was a dedicated member of the PAC-12 men’s rugby team.
Skye Galley, a Salt Lake City native and double major in marketing and finance, started her commercial real estate journey in March 2020. With prior experience in business analysis and project management, she thrived in a down market, closing deals and earning Rookie of the Year in 2021. Skilled in office properties, she’s expanding into retail at Newmark Mountain West, offering strategic guidance with her analytical prowess. In her free time, she’s an adventurous soul, enjoying mountain biking, snowboarding, paddle boarding, and live music, all while being a proud mom to mini-Aussie Rye.
Stephanie Buranek is retail specialist with the Harris Moore Team. Since 2006 Stephanie has been developing a career in commercial real estate, specializing in urban retail throughout the Wasatch Front.
Stephanie consistently leverages her local and national relationships to create strategic opportunities for her retail clients. Her overall market knowledge—as well as her keen understanding of retail in the Central Business District of Salt Lake City—assists her in achieving unique real estate solutions for those with whom she works.